Extrait du livre The emperor and the nightingale
The Emperor and the nightingale Hans Christian Andersen & Pascale Vignali Illustrated by Justine Cunha Le Regard Sonore Editions
This beautiful story is set long ago, so long it must be quickly told before everyone forgets it. It took place in China, during the reign of a very powerful emperor... Emperor Ping Chu, for such was his name, was a very old and very wise man, respected by all.
His palace was undoubtedly the most beautiful, large and extraordinary of all the palaces in the world. His garden included a forest of century-old trees. In one of the trees lived a nightingale whose song was so pure that everyone in the kingdom was amazed and some travelers even wrote books about their trip to China, mentioning the nightingale as the wonder of wonders.
One day, one of these books came into the hands of the emperor. EMPEROR PING CHU : What is this ? I learn from a book that comes from the other side of the world that there is a bird in my empire that I do not know?? A bird whose singing exceeds in beauty my garden and my palace?? I demand that this nightingale be brought to me tonight and that it sing for me after dinner! So be it or I shall give the order to have the stomachs of all the courtiers trampled, including yours !
CHAMBERLAIN TCHANG : Yes Master, it will be done according to your gracious wish, Master » A young servant woman, who had heard the emperor’s orders, offered to help the chamberlain. The girl led him to the forest with all the courtiers, who all feared that their stomachs would be trampled.
Suddenly, a boar growled: « rgrounch grmph frpronschk ! » THE COURTIERS: I say, do you hear that bird! How loud it is for such a small animal! This is incredible ! THE MAID: But no! That’s the grunt of a boar! And if you do not walk faster, he just might attack you! A little later, as they walked along the marshes, frogs disturbed by the noise began to croak : « Coôôôââââ ! »
THE MAID : There it is! It’s the nightingale! The little gray bird on the branch, that’s it ! Hello dear nightingale, will you sing for us please? THE NIGHTINGALE : Yes, with great pleasure. And its voice rose pure and sweet as a crystal bead, going straight to the heart of the courtiers who became silent with admiration…